Airway sign



- July 5, w w Rbs I I AIRWAY SIGN Filed Dec. 23, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet l July 5, 1932. w EDWARDS 1,866,199

AIRWAY S IGN Filed Dec. 25, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented July 5, 1932 UNETE STATES EARL W. EDWARDS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS AIRWAY SIGN Application fi1ed December 23, 1929. SerialfNo. 416,131.

This invention relates to an improvement in airway signs. I

The object of the invention is to provide an airway sign or marker of an improved character and one which may be practically i11- stalled for use in indicating the name or location of an air-port or field, or for other designations, or, if it should be desired, for advertising purposes.

The sign is preferably supported on the ground but elevated a substantial distance above the ground to an extent. of from sin to nine feet and in an approximately horizontal position. This reduces to a minimum the amount of trouble experienced in the construction and use of the sign, It is not obstructed or covered by snow, which will fall through the framework of the marker, except that which is actually deposited on the letters, but the actual outline of the letters will always be visible.

By elevating the slgn a substantial distance above its support, i. e., the ground, a

roof, or the like, not only prevents its being obstructed fromvicw but also makes it possible to use the framework for other purposes, such as to enclose low roofed structures for tools, storage, rest rooms, or the like.

In the accompanying drawings: 7

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of the complete sign; Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional View therethrough Fig. 3 is a disassembled perspective view of the parts of one of the supports;

Fig. f is a top plan view of the same; and

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the 40 same. i

The base of the sign may be suitably con structed of either metal, concrete or the like, sufficient to anchor the sign to the ground,

the roof of a building or the like, and as a' means of illustrating the invention this base portion is designated generally by the numeral 1, and is shown as inverted channel bars rigidly connected together and covered by sheet metal 2. However, this form of base is not essential to the invention and is merely shown for purposes of illustrating its plication.

This base 1 is securely fastened to the ground, the roof of a building or wherever the sign is to be used, and has base sockets 3 secured thereto for receiving posts 4. These posts are arranged preferably at the corners and at intermediate portions of the frame-v work and are designed to support the Sign itself. For this purpose they are provided with heads 5 at their upper ends.

Each of the heads 5 has outwardly extendmg channel'brackets 6 carried thereby for re-' celvlng the side rails 7 of the frame and in-I termediate rails 8, which serve to brace the' frame intermediate its ends, as shownin Fig. 1. The ends of the rails? and 8 are inserted into the channel brackets 6, as shown in Fig. 8, and' are thus rigidly secured thereto to form a strong and substantial frame for supporting the letters of the sign.v

Brace brackets 9 have the ends thereof re-.

ceived in the outermost channel brackets 6 and extend downwardly therefrom to receive a cable 10, which GXtQIldSflbOllt the framework and is connected with these brackets 9 for bracing this framework. i

The posts 4, which support the upper framework, are of aheight sufficient to disk pose the sign a substantial distance above the ground or other object on which it iscarried,

and this height should be from about six to ten feet, in order that the sign will belocated suficiently high so as not tobe obstructed or covered by snow, dust, rain or the like, thus keeping it entirely free and clear at all times. The parts of-the frame a may be rigidly bolted together, rendering it stron and durable, and the frame maybe entire y constructed of standard parts, thus framework. The upper surfaces of the characters may be colored as desirable or as required by proper regulations, and they are preferably illuminated alsoby any form of illumination, such as electric bulbs 14, as illustrated, or, if desired, by the use of neon lights or by reflected light. 7

The character of the illumination may de pend upon the regulations governing the use of these signs, particularly where they are applied for indicating air-ports, cities or directional matter, particularly useful to pilots of aircraft.

The construction of the sign enables it to conform to regulations of the Department of Commerce or other governmental bodies, respecting the designation or illumination of air-ports or the like. It may be used not only for such designations but also for the designation of a town or city, or to give various directions and distances relative thereto, or, if desired, for advertising purposes.

The sign is thus supported in the horizontal position so as to be visible from substantial heights in the air for indicating to pilots of aircraft any of the various matters displayed thereon, and by reason of being supported in such elevated position and being open the sign characters are kept entirely free of obstruction in order to be fully visible. This prevents the accumulation of snow, rain,

dust or other foreign matter on them at all times, which has been a great detriment to signs placed directly on the ground or the roof of a building;

I claim: 1. An airway sign comprising a framework having outer side members joined together, means for supporting said framework at a substantial height above the ground or other surface on which the sign is mounted, and sign characters fixed to said framework and extending across between the side members in approximately horizontal positions and approximately parallel with the surface on which the sign is supported, to be visible from aircraft at substantial heights.

2. A sign of the character described comprising supporting posts, heads carried by said posts, and having outwardly extending channel brackets carried thereby, frame members extending into and fixed to the channel brackets and forming a polygonal framework about the posts in approximately a horizontal plane, and sign characters secured to said frame members.

3. A sign of the character described comprising a plurality of posts extending up-' wardly in polygonal shape, a head fixed to each of said posts and having laterally extending channel brackets on different sides thereof, rails fixed in' said channel brackets and forming a polygonal framework about the posts, and extending approximately in a horizontal plane, and sign characters horizontally disposed upon and secured to said frame.

4. A sign of the character described comprising supporting posts, frame members carried by the posts and forming a polygonal framework, and extending approximately in a horizontal plane, and sign characters carried by said frame in an approximately horizontal position.

5. A sign of the character described comprising a base, upright supports carried by the base, frame members carried by the supports and extending in an approximately horizontal plane, and forming a polygonal framework about the posts, and sign char-v and bracing means connected with the brace brackets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

EARL W. EDWARDS. 

